Autumn Cooper of the Stz乌鸦传媒檜minus First Nation has become fluent in her dying native language in just a year, thanks to support from the First Peoples乌鸦传媒� Cultural Council (FPCC), which is receiving $34.75 million for cultural reclamation and revitalization.
At the legislature Tuesday (June 14), Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Murray Rankin announced $25 million for the council over three years to support community-based grants in art, heritage, language revitalization training and technology. Another $7.5 million will go to the FPCC directly for this fiscal year.
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Additionally, $2.6 million from advanced education and schools training will fund a two-year partnership with the FPCC乌鸦传媒檚 Youth Empowered Speakers (YES) program. YES supports First Nations students such as Cooper studying education and early childhood learning by giving them one-on-one mentorships, mentor-apprentice language training and paid internships.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 not in this journey alone,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a very tricky journey and we乌鸦传媒檙e all in it together.乌鸦传媒�
Rankin said he is proud to be part of a government that recognizes the significant value of First Nations languages, arts, culture and heritage.
乌鸦传媒淩evitalization efforts are crucial in protecting these languages and these cultures. Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples will not be accomplished without that.乌鸦传媒�
Language, arts and heritage are vital for connecting people to their communities, land and culture across generations, he added.
乌鸦传媒淟anguage plays a crucial role in our daily lives, not only as a tool for communication, education and social development, but also as a reservoir for our unique identities, artistic expression, cultural history, traditions and memory across the planet.乌鸦传媒�
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Council CEO Tracey Herbert said this partnership will 乌鸦传媒渃hange the course of history,乌鸦传媒� adding, 乌鸦传媒渨e would not have a road map for the future without our knowledge keepers.乌鸦传媒�
Lorna Wanosts乌鸦传媒檃7 Williams, chair of the First Peoples乌鸦传媒� Cultural Foundation, was also on hand for the announcement.
乌鸦传媒淲e know that sustainable long-term investments into Indigenous cultural revitalization will yield many benefits in terms of economic development, self-determination and self-governance, health and wellness,乌鸦传媒� she said.
Indigenous knowledge is vital to all British Columbians and the funding shows Canada and the world that Indigenous peoples will continue to lead revitalization efforts and ensure their language, art, culture and heritage flourish, Williams added.
乌鸦传媒� with files from Jane Skrypnek
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